Garbage hideaway



M. B. WOODS, sR 3,514,007

GARBAGE HIDEAWAY May 26, 1970 Filed March 14, 1968 .4 Shees-Sheet lINVENT OR MIL ram 5. Wooos, $12.,

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ATTORNEY M y 1970 MB. WOODS, SR

GARBAGE HIDEAWAY .4 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 14, 1968 INVENTOR M1. 701V5. Wows, 52.

BY 25 7 M ATTORNEY May 26, 1970 M. B. WOODS, SR

GARBAGE HIDEAWAY .4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 14, 1968 INVENTORM/LroA/fi. Wooos, 52.

ATTORNEY May 26, 1970 M. B. wooos, SR

GARBAGE HIDEAWAY .4 Sheets-Sheet 4 F'iled March 14, 1968 INVENTORM/LTO/V WOODS, SE,

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,514,007 GARBAGE HIDEAWAY Milton BriceWoods, Sr., 2611 Chelsea St., Orlando, Fla. 32803 Filed Mar. 14, 1968,Ser. No. 713,222 Int. Cl. B65d 25/00, 43/16 US. Cl. 22-015 1 ClaimABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention provides an effective mobilereceptacle for one or more garbage or trash cans, which assures that thelids will be kept upon the cans at all times except during filling andemptying procedures, with the removal of the cans from the device beingsuch' an uncomplicated matter that the garbage men and/or trash men canreasonably be expected to use the device in the intended manner.

This invention relates to an easily transportable, allweather garbagecan transporter, and more particularly to such a device that will besanitar and odorless, yet convenient enough that garbage and trashcollectors will use it properly.

Virtually every householder is acquainted with the problems of disposingof trash and garbage, for dogs and other animals are prone to knock thecans over and scatter the contents, lids frequently getting lost orbecome bent so as not to fit properly, and as a result flies and otherunattractive animal life are frequently present. Further, in manycommunities it is necessary for the householder to transport the garbagecans to a certain location, such as to a curb that may be a distancefrom the house, involving the cans being laboriously carried one at atime to such locations. Thereafter, the garbage men after dumping samefrequently fling the cans into the yard, causing an unsightly appearanceas well as remnants of trash and garbage being strewn around.

Others have become aware of this problem and a number of garbage can andtrash can arrangements have been proposed, utilizing a hinged lid thatcan be opened by stepping on a foot pedal. However, these devices havechiefly been designed for indoor use and generally have not been ruggedenough so that garbage men and trash collectors could be allowed tohandle same.

Still others have utilized wheeled carts or wagons for transportinggarbage cans, but these are frequently unsightly and so cumbersome tohandle that usually the householder dispenses with the use of same andgoes back to carrying the garbage cans by hand.

In accordance with the present invention I have provided a transportertype device I prefer to call a garbage hideaway, which is anattractively configured mobile device designed to carry one, two or moregarbage cans, with the arrangement being such that the lids of thegarbage cans are always closed except when items are being placed in thecans, or they are being dumped by the refuse collector.

I prefer to construct my transporter to have front, back and sidemembers, with means such as a plurality of steel centering springs beingarrayed around in the interior of same in one or more generally circularconfigurations such that garbage cans of a particular size can beaccepted. Although the sides of the transporter housing are far enoughapart that the cans could loosely fit into same, by

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the use of these centering springs, two or so can receiving locationsare uniquely determined, from which the cans can be easily withdrawn,and back into which they may be easily replaced.

Although the use of the plurality of centering springs is advantageousfrom several standpoints, the determination of these can receivinglocations becomes particularly significant when it is realized that thelids of these garbage cans can be disposed on the inside of the covermember of the housing, thus being in such a position that the garbagecans are automatically closed when the cover member of the housing isclosed. Conversely, when it is desired to place some additional garbageor trash in the can or cans disposed in the housing, it is but a simplematter to step upon a foot pedal arranged to automatically cause thecover member to open, to thus uncover both cans so that the householdercan deposit his trash or garbage in the appropriate can.

Other advantages of my invention involve the fact that it can easilyaccommodate plastic trash or garbage cans therein, which of course meansthat rust and noise problems can be largely eliminated. Further, mymobile housing not only makes it possible for a housewife to easilytransport the garbage cans to the street as may be required, but also itforms a sturdy enough means for protecting plastic cans that they willnot be torn or damaged, nor can they be overturned by dogs, or enteredby rats or other animals.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a refusecan transporter that will greatly simplify the problem of storing,transporting, and dumping of such cans.

It is another object of my invention to provide a transporter havingone, two or more can-receiving locations therein, from which cans orother items may be readily withdrawn or replaced.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a receptacle forgarbage cans or trash cans that assures the lids being maintained on thecans at all times during stor age, yet easily removable at time ofimmediate use.

These and other objects, features and advantages may be more apparentfrom a study of the enclosed drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of my transporter, with certainportions removed to reveal internal construction;

FIG. 1a is a fragmentary view of a portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a top view generally relatable to FIG. 1, but with certainportions of the cover member removed to reveal the internalarrangements;

FIG. 3 is an end view of my transporter, with the cover member partiallyraised;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 44 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is the upper portion of a cross section taken along lines 55 inFIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view illustrating a wheel detail;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view of the handle detail;

FIG. 9 is a perspective View of the frame of the cover member;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a typical corner detail ofthe cover member;

FIG. 11 is a detail of a typical corner of the transporter; and

FIG. 12 is a view of the corner with the upper channel members in place.

Referring to FIG. 1, I have there illustrated the transporter whichutilizes a frame 11 such as of metal members of L-shaped, channelshaped, or Z-shaped cross section. A pair of wheels 12 may be providedadjacent one end of the device, and a handle 13 at the upper part of theopposite end so as to enable the device to be tipped somewhat, and thenthe garbage cans or trash cans wheeled from the house to the curb orvice versa. A foot member 14 may be provided on the underside of thetransporter near the handle, which serves to support part of the device10 when it is not being wheeled.

As may vbe noted from FIG. 1 and other figures, the transporter may bearranged to receive trash cans or garbage cans 15 and 16, which areeasily accommodated within the confines of the transporter. The cans mayeach rest upon a circular support member such as member 17 of FIG. 1,which may for example be supported by and fastened to Z-shapedtransverse frame members 18 and 19. Latter members may in turn besecured to lower longitudinal frame members 21 and 22, as best seen inFIGS. 1, la and 2. Members 21 and 22 form a mounting means for the axleof wheels 12; note FIGS. 2 and 7.

Rather than allowing the cans 15 and 16 to be disposed loosely withinthe transporter, I prefer to use a plurality of centering springs 23disposed on each half of the transporter, with each group of springsextending in somewhat of a circular array to define can-receivinglocations 25 and 26. Each spring extends from the upper part of thedevice to the lower, with the center portions of the springs being freeto contact the sides of the respective can. In this manner the springstogether define a firm yet effective retention means for the cans, withthe springs having sutficient force to retain the cans in the desiredposition, yet presenting no substantial obstacle to the removal of thecans for the purpose of dumping, or to the subsequent reinsertion ofsame.

As will be noted from the FIG. 2 of drawing, I may prefer to use eightcentering springs 23 to define each can receiving location, with four ofthe springs in somewhat corner positions, and thus necessarily beingsomewhat larger than the four intervening springs. The upper ends of thesprings can be bolted to the upper frame members, and the lower endsbolted to the circular support members.

As will be apparent from FIG. 3 and other figures of drawing, I providea hinged cover member 28 in order to assure that the cans will remaintightly closed at all times except when trash or garbage is beingdeposited in the cans, or else the cans are being emptied. The lids and36 for the cans 15 and 16 are preferably secured to the underside of thecover 28, with the placement being such that when the cover member isclosed, the lids automatically cover the cans. The can receivinglocations 25 and 26 of course determine the location of the cans withrespect to the lids. Hinges 47 may be used to secure the cover member 28to the upper frame members.

Preferably the cover member 28 is spring biased to the open position, sothat upon foot pedal 29 being oper ated, a suitable latch arrangement 30releases cover and allows it to quickly open under the influence of acornpression spring 32. As will be noted in FIG. 4, the spring 32 may bedisposed approximately in the mid portion of the transporter, anddisposed so as to push against a piston member 48 and thus cause thecover member to open upon the latch member being released. The spring 32is preferably disposed in a spring housing 33 that serves to protect thespring as well as serving to provide an effective mounting for same. Asnubber spring 49 may be employed in the upper end of the spring housingto cushion the opening of the cover member 28.

It will be noted from FIGS. 1 and 2 that the frame members adjacent thecenter portion of the transporter may be spaced somewhat apart so as todefine a space, and it is in that space that the spring 32 may bedisposed, as Well as the latching arrangement 30 associated with footpedal 29. As will be noted from FIG. 4, the foot pedal 29 is biased by acoil spring 34 into the position in which the rod 37 causes contact tobe maintained with latch 31. However, upon the foot pedal 29 beingdepressed, the latch member is caused to be released, allowing the covermember to be biased to the open position illustrated in dotted lines inFIG. 4 under the influence of spring 32.

As will be noted from FIG. 1, the lids 35 and 36 corresponding to thecans 15 and 16 are preferably secured to the underside of the covermember, or more particularly to the cross members 40 of the frame 50 ofthe cover member, with the position of the lids being such as tocorrespond closely to the position of the cans when the cover member isin closed position. This is significant once it is realized that manytimes a person does not take the time to cover the cans tightly, whereasin accordance with this invention, proper closure of the cans iseffected automatically as the cover member is closed. If desired, aplurality of small springs 38 may be utilized for suspending the lids inthe proper position from members 40, and a gasket or seal 39 may bedisposed around the inner periphery of each lid so that a desirablytight, odor-proof and insect-proof sealing may be effected.

Although I am not to be restricted to same, for lightness as well asstrength reason I prefer to construct the sides of the transporterutilizing corrugated fiberglass panels, such as front panel 41, rearpanel 42, and end panels 43 and 44. As will be noted from FIGS. 1 and 4,these panels may be easily received between the various portions of thechannel members constituting the frame 11 of my device. Note in thisregard in FIGS. 8 and 11 that corner'members 45 are configured toreceive panels. Thereafter, upper channel members 46 may be placed alongthe tops of the panels, as will be noted from FIGS. 2 and 12. As aresult of this construction, my device lends itself to economicalshipping in that the frame members may be transported in disassembledcondition, with the householder being expected to bolt same together,thereafter slide the precut panels into place, and then fasten members46 into position.

Referring to FIG. 9', it will be noted that I may construct the frame50' of the cover member 28 of square wall tubing, with corner members 51employed to complete the construction. A flat sheet 52 of fiberglass orthe like may constitute the upper surface of the cover member 28.

As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a can of disinfectant 53 and a brush 54 may besecured to panel 44.

As may now be seen, I have provided a very effective, attractive andeconomical garbage can transporter that enables a person with both handsfull to open the lids of the cans easily. As will be obvious, one of thecans in the transporter may be for trash, and the other for garbage.

The bottom portion of the transporter may be left uncovered by a panel,thus preventing a buildup of trash inside, in the event some trashmisses the cans. I am not to be limited to fiberglass panels for thesides and top of the device, for obviously plywood or thin metal sheetsmay be used if preferable.

I claim:

1. A transporter for a plurality of garbage cans, trash cans or the likecomprising a housing having a plurality of sides and a hinged cover,means defining a plurality of can-receiving locations in saidtransporter for receiving the same number of cans, each of saidlocations being defined by a plurality of centering springs arrayed in asubstantially circular configuration, with mid portions of said springsbeing free to contact the sides of the respective can and determine itsposition in the transporter, and with the upper portions of the springsbeing spaced from the cans so as to provide ready access to the handlesprovided on the cans, flanged lids being provided for the cans, saidlids being attached to the interior portion of said hinged cover, withthe position of the lids on said cover being such that the cans areautomatically opened upon said cover being raised, with the flangedportions References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 485,011 10/ 1892Kneeland 22015 645,626 3/1900 Mills 22012 1,174,136 3/1916 Filger 22016X 1,408,757 3/1922 Metzger 220-15 X 1,625,006 4/ 1927 Wattawa. 1,662,3993/1928 Rood et a1.

Sommers 220--1 Schott 220-36 Glowka.

Hollerith 22035 Joyce 28 0-4726 X Searles 21754 X Smith 21754 Hales217-54 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner J. R. GARRETT, AssistantExaminer US. Cl. X.R.

